Oxbow

A troubled start and subsequent traffic proved too much for Hence to overcome while running 11th in the Kentucky Derby, where he was beaten 18 1/2 lengths.

Hence, whose name is inspired by his good looks, went winless in three starts as a juvenile before breaking his maiden in his sophomore debut Jan. 16 at Oaklawn Park. Despite stumbling at the start and losing the lead after ducking out in mid-stretch, Hence rallied for a three-quarter-length victory.

Never in contention while finishing seventh in the Southwest (G3) Feb. 20, Hence rebounded with an impressive come-from-behind triumph in the Sunland Derby (G3) March 26. Among the horses he defeated were Irap, upset next-out winner of the Blue Grass (G2); Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Conquest Mo Money; and Hedge Fund, a head loser of the Illinois Derby (G3) in his subsequent start.

Jockey

Florent Geroux

A winter regular at the Fair Grounds, where he was leading rider in 2016 and 2017, 30-year-old Florent Geroux was sixth aboard Laoban in his first Preakness after making his Triple Crown debut on Gun Runner in the 2016 Kentucky Derby.

Born in France on July 16, 1986, the son of former jockey Dominque Geroux attended riding school there and began riding at 17, winning his first race aboard Chopyluz at Longchamp in 2004. He came to the United States as an apprentice in 2007 to ride for trainer Patrick Biancone in California.

Geroux earned his first graded stakes victory with Dade Babe in the 2010 Pucker Up (2013) and picked up his first Grade 1 with Work All Week’s 19-1 upset of the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Geroux enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2015 highlighted by victories in the Breeders’ Cup on Catch A Glimpse in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and Mongolian Saturday in the Turf Sprint (G1), and the Arlington Million (G1) with The Pizza Man.

In 2016 Geroux captured 30 graded stakes, 10 of them Grade 1 races, and on Dec. 29 picked up his 1,000th career victory aboard Mr. Misunderstood at Fair Grounds. He has won nearly $50 million in purses since his arrival in North America.

Owner

Calumet Farm

There have been eight horses to win the Preakness for Calumet Farm, most recently Oxbow in 2013. Calumet last had a Preakness starter in 2015, when Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas negotiated a last-minute purchase of Mr. Z from Ahmed Zayat. Mr. Z finished fifth behind Zayat-owned Triple Crown champion American Pharoah.

Owner Brad Kelley was born in Franklin, Ky. and lives in the Nashville suburb of Franklin, Tenn. He graduated from Franklin-Simpson High School and founded Commonwealth Tobacco, a producer of discounted cigarettes, in 1990.

In 2001, Kelley sold his company for $1 billion and invested in 1.2 million acres of real estate in Texas, Florida and New Mexico. An avid wildlife conservationist, he has spent millions of dollars for the cause.

Bluegrass Hall is the racing arm of the Kelley-owned Hurricane Hall breeding farm in Lexington, Ky.

Just days before the 2012 Kentucky Derby, Kelley announced that he was leasing the 800-acre Calumet Farm to serve as the new home of his Bluegrass Hall and Hurricane Hall racing and breeding operations.

Founded in 1924, the farm was put up for sale by the children of the late Henryk de Kwiatkowski, who bought the farm at auction in 1992 and restored the property.

Trainer

Steve Asmussen

One of the nation’s most prolific trainers, in terms of starts and wins, the 51-year-old South Dakota native has two Preakness victories to his credit, with Curlin in 2007 and filly Rachel Alexandra in 2009.

A two-time Horse of the Year, Curlin was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in 2014. Asmussen and Rachel Alexandra joined him last summer, were enshrined together among the Class of 2016.

His parents, Keith and Marilyn, are both trainers, but Asmussen aspired to be a jockey, taking out his riding license at age 16. He rode for three years before struggles with weight

forced his retirement. His brother, Cash, was the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice of 1979 and a European champion rider.

Asmussen began training thoroughbreds and quarter horses in New Mexico in1986, and his first major thoroughbred was Valid Expectations, who won seven stakes races from 1995-97. Dreams Galore gave Asmussen his first Grade 1 victory in the 1999 Mother Goose at Belmont Park.

A finalist in 2004, 2005 and 2007, Asmussen won a then-record 622 races, including the 4,000th of his career, in 2008 to capture his first Eclipse Award as top trainer. He repeated as Eclipse winner in 2009, setting a single-season record of 650 wins from 2,944 starters, earning nearly $22 million in purses, and reaching the 5,000 win plateau on Sept. 11.

On April 1, 2015, Asmussen became only the second trainer with 7,000 career wins in North America with Drama Coach at Oaklawn Park. Since joined by Jerry Hollendorfer, he trails only all-time leader Dale Baird on the all-time victory list.

In all, Asmussen has had six Preakness starters, most recently Daddy Nose Best, who ran ninth in 2012. He was third with Astrology in 2011 and fifth with Snuck In in 2000 and Easyfromthegitgo in 2002.